Team Herald
PANJIM: In a major setback to the private shack operators, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has decided not to entertain any new applications for temporary seasonal structures in private properties or hotels along the beach areas pending drafting and finalization of Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for the State.
The new permissions for huts, shacks, tents, cottages in private properties or to hotels along the beach area of 0-200 metres from High Tide Line (HTL), which is considered as Eco-sensitive areas (ESAs), will not be accepted.
GCZMA has so far permitted 378 huts and 43 shacks in the private properties for next five years or the lease period whichever is less. It has permitted 216 shackshuts at Palolem, 179 in Agonda, 25 in Anjuna and one in Naqueri village.
During its meeting held last month, the authority noted that State is in the process of preparing CZMP which will entail specific provisions for the management of ESAs in Goa and the process is yet to be completed.
“Therefore, exercising the precautionary principle to conserve the unique ecology of beaches and also to prevent overcrowding of beach areas, the authority is of considered opinion that no new applications for huts/shacks/ tents/cottages in private properties/ hotels along the beach area (0-200 mtrs from HTL) is to be accepted and processed by GCZMA till the finalisation of CZMP by the State Government,” the meeting resolved.
The GCZMA has processed all the applications pending with it for the temporary seasonal structures along the beach stretches as per the beach carrying capacity report.
The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), which is entrusted with the task of preparing CZMP, almost two years back, is yet to submit its report. The CZMP will cover shoreline management, conservation management, pollution management, tourism, resource and livelihood management.
